Margaret George, author of "The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers: A Novel," joins host Adam Camac to discuss the life, legacy, controversies, accomplishments, wives, advisors, and kids of King Henry VIII of England. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/22.

1:26 - The guest’s interest in King Henry VIII and her decision to write a book about him

3:19 - Overview of how King Henry VIII’s character changed over time and of just how complicated he was as a person

5:50 - War of the Roses, the rule of Henry VII, the death of Henry VII’s oldest son Arthur, and other pieces of context in England and with the English monarchy prior to Henry VIII becoming king in 1509

9:22 - Henry VIII’s involvement in wars and how that shaped his time on the throne

11:37 - Overview of Henry VIII’s six wives and the significance of him wanting to have a male heir to succeed him on the throne

22:29 - Changes in the religious makeup of England and in Henry VIII’s views on religion, how Henry VIII went from defending the Catholic faith early in his reign to later splitting with the Catholic Church and establishing the Church of England

26:26 - Seizing monasteries and land, the Pilgrimage of Grace of 1536-1537, Henry VIII’s moves to further distance England from the Catholic Church and responses and reactions to these moves

29:27 - Key advisors to King Henry VIII, including Thomas Cromwell, Thomas Wolsey, Thomas Cranmer, and Thomas More

35:57 - Who Will Somers was and why he played such a key role in the guest’s book about King Henry VIII

38:46 - Henry VIII’s relationships with his three kids who eventually became monarchs: the future Edward VI, Mary I (Bloody Mary), and Elizabeth I; how Henry VIII’s legacy and influence shaped each of their reigns

44:32 - The power and authority associated with Henry VIII’s reign, how royal power expanded during the 38 years of Henry VIII’s rule

46:41 - How Henry VIII was viewed during his own time, how we should view Henry VIII’s life and legacy today

48:31 - Anything we missed, Henry VIII’s abilities and talents as a musician, what the guest has written that listeners should read

Salvador Rueda, Director of the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the history of Mexico. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/21.

1:26 - The history of Chapultepec Castle

5:43 - What is covered at the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City

6:05 - The Spanish Empire’s conquest of the Aztecs and of Mexico

10:18 - Life during the years when the Spanish ruled Mexico

12:49 - Problems during Spanish rule that led to Mexicans wanting to become independent from Spain

15:44 - Father Hidalgo, the Grito de Dolores, and the start of the Mexican War of Independence

19:29 - How Mexico eventually won the war with Spain and gained their independence

21:34 - Agustín de Iturbide as the first leader of Mexico and briefly as Emperor of Mexico, who he was and his significance during the early years of Mexico

24:29 - The dictatorship of Santa Anna and how Santa Anna’s time in power led to reforms and calls for change in Mexico

27:47 - How the Mexican people reacted to Santa Anna’s time in power, what changes the Mexican people wanted because of Santa Anna

29:58 - The second French invasion in Mexico, what happened with it, why Benito Juarez became important during that time

36:11 - Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlotta living at Chapultepec Castle during the second French invasion

37:39 - Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920, what caused the Mexican Revolution, what the Mexican people were upset about

44:02 - Pancho Villa’s role in the Mexican Revolution

46:22 - Other people and groups of people to know from the Mexican Revolution

47:12 - Who Emiliano Zapata was

49:27 - Why people should visit Mexico City and Chapultepec Castle in particular

Peter Alter, Chief Historian at the Chicago History Museum, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the history of Chicago. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/20.

1:15 - The origins of the city of Chicago, where the name Chicago comes from, the founding of the city of Chicago

5:03 - The initial growth of Chicago, what Chicago looked like as of 1871 when the Great Chicago Fire occurred

9:12 - Truths and myths about the Great Chicago Fire

15:32 - Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 (World's Columbian Exposition)

18:57 - 1886 Haymarket Affair, 1894 Pullman Strike, Union Stockyards and the Chicago meatpacking industry, Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, labor history of Chicago and working class struggles

25:01 - European immigrant groups to Chicago, including Poles, Serbs, Greeks, etc., the Great Migration within the US beginning in the 1910s

30:34 - Jane Addams and the establishment of Hull House in 1889, Chicago’s initial development as a transportation and railroad hub in the 1800s

37:42 - How the Great Migration affected Chicago, race riots, the development of the South Side of Chicago, the Chicago Black Renaissance

43:20 - Chicago during Prohibition and the 1920s, Chicago as a center for illegal activities and gangster violence during the Prohibition era, Al Capone and Bugs Moran and their association with Chicago, St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929

49:04 - Chicago’s connection to the Manhattan Project and role during World War II

52:13 - The Daley family and the Democratic Party machine in Chicago, the 1968 Democratic National Convention

1:00:34 - The role of professional sports in Chicago and how professional sports have affected the way Chicago has been viewed (including the Cubs breaking their World Series curse in 2016, the 1985 Bears, the Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen championship teams of the 1990s, and more)

1:04:25 - Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Lake Michigan, iconic downtown Marshall Fields location, State Street, Michigan Avenue, Millennium Park, The Bean (Cloud Gate), Lake Shore Drive, Wrigley Field, and other Chicago landmarks

1:08:36 - Windy City, Second City, and other nicknames for Chicago

1:12:40 - Related and recommended resources